How does Ogontz's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Ogontz (153.5 mg/L) is 3 mg/L harder than average.

Ogontz Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

153.5mg/L

Hard

9 grains per gallon

Source

reservoir

pH Level

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.005 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

322.4 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.41

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

153.5mg/L as CaCO₃Hard

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Ogontz, your appliances are currently losing 20% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Ogontz	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	6.8 yrs	8.5 yrs	-20%
Washing Machine	9.6 yrs	12 yrs	-20%
Water Heater	12 yrs	15 yrs	-20%

Regional Water Comparison

How Ogontz compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Ogontz, Pennsylvania	153.5 mg/L	7.8 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
West Oak Lane, Pennsylvania	≈ 120–179 mg/L	10 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
Logan, Pennsylvania	≈ 60–120 mg/L	4.4 ppt	🟡 Moderately Hard	groundwater
Olney, Pennsylvania	≈ 180+ mg/L	5.9 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Germantown, Pennsylvania	≈ 180+ mg/L	4.4 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir

National Benchmark

How Ogontz compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Ogontz	153.5 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Ogontz's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 322.4 mg/LpH: 8

The Ogontz neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, receives its water from the Philadelphia Water Department. This utility draws from the Delaware River and Schuylkill River systems, which supply the entire Philadelphia metropolitan area. The water originates from these two significant river watersheds, feeding into the Philadelphia Water Department's treatment facilities. The bedrock beneath Philadelphia is a mix of ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks and younger Paleozoic sedimentary layers, notably including limestone and dolomite. These specific rock types are responsible for dissolving minerals into the water, leading to its moderate level of hardness. Homeowners in Ogontz might notice scale forming on faucets and showerheads, or find that soaps and detergents don't lather as readily. Over many years, this can also affect the performance and lifespan of appliances like coffee makers and water heaters. While not strictly necessary, many residents opt to install a whole-house or point-of-use water softener to combat these effects. The Philadelphia Water Department consistently meets all federal drinking water regulations, and detailed reports on specific water quality parameters are available on their website.

Geology & Source: Precambrian metamorphic; Paleozoic sedimentary (limestone, dolomite) - moderate hardness

Other Pennsylvania Water Reports

West Oak Lane

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Logan

≈ 60–120 mg/L

🟡 Moderately Hard

Olney

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Germantown

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

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Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ogontz's water safe to drink?

Yes. Ogontz's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is 153.5 mg/L (Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Ogontz?

At 153.5 mg/L (Hard), Ogontz's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 20%.

How does Ogontz compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Ogontz (153.5 mg/L) is 3 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Ogontz is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.